Far Too Easy primed for an upset Guineas triumph

By Glenn Davis

It will be a classic rags-to-riches story for Murwillumbah trainer David McColm if Far Too Easy wins the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Far Too Easy will be ridden by champion Melbourne jockey Craig Williams and is a $17 chance in latest markets after drawing awkwardly in barrier 15 for the 1400-metre feature.

The gelding has missed a place only once in his six-start career when fourth at Doomben back in August.

Since then, he has won a Benchmark race at the Gold Coast in November before claiming the Winning Rupert at Doomben on December 4.

He then stepped up to stakes level and was gallant in defeat running second to the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Me Me Lagarde in the Listed Gold Edition at Eagle Farm on December 18.

McColm is a self-confessed battler but is dreaming big for the Magic Millions.

“He’s a nice horse and I’m not overly concerned with the barrier,” McColm said.

“He gets back a little in his races so he should get the opportunity to race midfield.

“There’s a case for 10 horses in this race and Me Me Lagarde beat us convincingly last time so she’s an obvious danger.

“I’ll leave it all to Craig Williams.”

A former jockey, McColm took on the training caper in 1986 but his career and life were seriously threatened following a health scare in 2010.

“I had a bleed on the brain and had to give training away for a couple of years,” he said.

“I’ve got four horses in work now but I hope to have six soon as well as running a pest control business.”

McColm was originally based at Beaudesert before he packed up and left following some personal issues and bought a five-acre property not far from the Murwillumbah race track.

Developing the complex has been an ongoing process but thanks to his former top sprinter Spirit Of Oregon and now Far Too Easy, McColm has reinvented himself.

Far Too Easy was a $45,000 steal at the Magic Millions sales when McColm went to the yearling sales with a $70,000 budget.

“I’m not sure why he went for $45,000. The only thing I can think of was he was a bit on the small side but he was still very athletic,” he said.

McColm gave a little chuckle when asked what he planned to do if Far Too Easy won the Magic Millions Guineas.

“I’ll probably reflect on my life a little but I’m chuffed just to have a runner in it,” he said.